-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The remains of Amber DuBois , a 14-year-old San Diego , California-area girl who was missing for more than a year , have been found , police said Sunday .

Human skeletal remains found early Saturday in Pala -- a rural , rugged area in northern San Diego County , California -- have been positively identified as those of DuBois , Police Chief Jim Maher of Escondido , California , said at a news conference .

DuBois was last seen walking alone to school on February 13 , 2009 . Her family lives in Escondido , a suburb of San Diego .

Maher did not take questions at the brief news conference , saying the investigation of DuBois ' death is ongoing . `` Any detail , no matter how slight , would be inappropriate at this time , '' he said .

The investigation is being handled by Escondido police , the San Diego County Sheriff 's Department , and the FBI .

Amber DuBois ' parents , who police said were notified of their daughter 's found remains Saturday , attended the press conference . `` We 'd like to thank everybody involved in the search for Amber ... and above all , our huge volunteer corps , '' her father , Moe DuBois , said . `` They are the most dedicated people you can ever imagine . ''

`` Without them we can not have done anything , '' he said .

Authorities said last week they were investigating John Albert Gardner III , who pleaded not guilty Wednesday to raping and murdering Chelsea King -- another San Diego-area teen -- to determine whether he was connected to Amber DuBois ' disappearance .

`` We have been working closely with San Diego Sheriff 's Office , and our investigators are working with theirs in case there is a connection , '' Lt. Robert Benton with the Escondido Police Department said last week . `` We are involved in the daily briefings on the King investigation . ''

Amber DuBois ' father attended Gardner 's arraignment on Wednesday .

Maher did not mention any suspects during his brief news conference Sunday .

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Remains of Amber DuBois , 14 when she disappeared last year , found in San Diego County

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Police said last week they 're investigating John Albert Gardner III

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Gardner is charged with murder in disappearance of a different teen , Chelsea King

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DuBois was last seen walking alone to school on February 13 , 2009